Module Limitation
Depending on the selected microcontroller (IC), the number of usable control components, static blocks, FX blocks, and pixels is limited.
When designing a fixture configuration, all selected components must be summed up and validated against the limits of the chosen IC.
Supported ICs and Limits
| IC | Max Static Blocks | Max FX Blocks | Max Pixels |
|---|---|---|---|
| nRF52840 | 20 | 18 | 100 |
| nRF52833 | 12 | 17 | 66 |
Limits apply per fixture configuration
Static blocks and FX blocks are counted separately
Exceeding any limit is not allowed
Pixel Usage
Only the following control components can allocate pixels:
- Color (min. 1 pixel)
- White (min. 1 pixel)
- Pan (min. 1 pixel)
- Tilt (min. 1 pixel)
- Zoom (min. 1 pixel)
- Color 2 (min. 1 pixel)
- White 2 (min. 1 pixel)
All other components such as Pan Endless Rotation, Tilt Endless Rotation, UV, Focus, Frost, Prism, Iris, Fog, Fan, Fire Gobo, Framing, Special FX 1, Special FX 2, Special FX 3, Special FX 4, and Special FX 5 do not have pixels.
If multiple pixel-capable components are used, the sum of all configured pixels must not exceed the IC's maximum pixel count.
Control Components vs. Internal Blocks
A control component is what the developer selects conceptually (e.g. Color, Pan, Zoom).
Each control component internally consumes:
- Static blocks (always active logic)
- FX blocks (logic required for effects)
These internal blocks must be counted against the IC limits.
Shared Blocks
Some components share internal blocks.
Shared means:
- A shared block is counted only once, even if multiple components use it.
- It is not duplicated when multiple dependent components are enabled.
Most components use only individual Static and individual FX blocks. However, some control components use shared Static Blocks (Master Strobe, White Strobe) or shared FX Blocks (Master Intensity).
The three shared blocks are:
- Master Strobe: Add 1 shared Static Block if you are using one or more of the following control components: Color, Color2, White, or White2.
- White Strobe: Add 1 shared Static Block if you are using one or more of the following control components: White or White2.
- Master Intensity: Add 1 shared FX Block if you are using one or more of the following control components: Color, Color2, White, or White2.
The table below illustrates these relationships in a more technical and structured way.
Table for pixels, static block and FX block count
The following table defines how many pixels, static blocks and FX blocks each control component consumes.
| Control Component | Pixels | Static Blocks (Individual) | Static Blocks (Shared) | FX Blocks (Individual) | FX Blocks (Shared) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan | Min. 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Tilt | Min. 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Pan Endless Rotation | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Tilt Endless Rotation | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Color | Min. 1 | 3 | 1 (Shared with Color2, White and White2 for Master Strobe) | 8 | 1 (Shared with Color2, White and White2 for Master Intensity) |
| Color 2 | Min. 1 | – | 1 (Shared with Color, White and White2 for Master Strobe) | 3 | 1 (Shared with Color, White and White2 for Master Intensity) |
| White | Min. 1 | – | In Total 2: 1 (Shared with Color2, White and White2 for Master Strobe)1 (Shared with White2 for White Strobe) | 1 | 1 (Shared with Color, Color2 and White2 for Master Intensity) |
| White 2 | Min. 1 | – | In Total 2: 1 (Shared with Color2, White and White2 for Master Strobe)1 (Shared with White for White Strobe) | 1 | 1 (Shared with Color, Color2 and White for Master Intensity) |
| UV | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Zoom | Min. 1 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Focus | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Frost | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Prisma | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Iris | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Fog | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Fan | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Fire | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Gobo | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Framing | – | 9 | – | – | – |
| Special FX 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| Special FX 2 | – | – | – | 1 | – |
| Special 3 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Special 4 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Special 5 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
Example I: Configuration Calculation (Guided Example)
Target IC: nRF52833
Limits: 12 static blocks, 17 FX blocks, 66 pixels
Selected control components:
- Color – RGB (40 Pixels)
- White (10 Pixels)
- Pan
- Tilt
- Zoom
- Focus
- Prisma
Pixel Calculation
- Color: 40
- White: 10
- Pan: 1
- Tilt: 1
- Zoom: 1
- Focus: 0
- Prisma: 0
-> Total configured Pixels: 53
-> Max allowed Pixels: 66
Pixel Count within limit
Static Block Calculation
- Color (Individual): 3
- Color (Shared): 1 (Master Strobe)
- White (Individual): 0
- White (Shared): 1 (White Strobe and Master Strobe is already included in Color (Shared))
- Pan: 1
- Tilt: 1
- Zoom: 1
- Focus: 1
- Prisma: 1
-> Total configured Static Blocks: 10
-> Max allowed Static Blocks: 12
Static Blocks within limit
FX Block Calculation
- Color (Individual): 8
- Color (Shared): 1 (Master Intensity)
- White (Individual): 1
- White (Shared): 0 (Since Master Intensity is already included in Color (Shared)
- Pan: 1
- Tilt: 1
- Zoom: 1
- Focus: 0
- Prisma: 0
-> Total configured FX Blocks: 13
-> Max allowed FX Blocks: 17
FX BLocks within limit
-> Result: Configuration is valid for nRF52833
If you are unsure whether you understood it correctly, please contact your Vision Control supervisor for assistance. Alternatively, complete Example II yourself as a test and ask your Vision Control supervisor for the password to the solution file.
He will then check whether you solved the example correctly regarding pixels, static blocks, and FX blocks.
Example II: Configuration Calculation (Self Test)
Target IC: nRF52833
Limits: 12 static blocks, 17 FX blocks, 66 pixels
Selected control components:
- Color 1 (Beam) – RGB (1 Pixels)
- Color 2 (Wash) – RGBL (20 Pixels)
- White (15 Pixels)
- Pan
- Pan Endless Rotation
- Tilt
- Tilt Endless Rotation
- Zoom (20 Pixels)
- Focus
- Frost
- Prisma
- Iris
Pixel Count: ___
Static Blocks: ___
FX Blocks: ___
Solution:
Ask your Vision Control supervisor for the password to the solution file.
